The status of the U.S. trade war with China seems to be changing daily. Tariffs on imports from China will undoubtedly raise prices, given how many goods sold in the U.S. are made there. But how much will the tariffs actually end up costing, how will businesses respond to them, and will shipments from China keep coming?
Honestly, we don't have the answers to these questions. With so much uncertainty, Americans are stocking up on their favorite electronics and Shein goods.
As Mashable reported this week, sex toys are typically made in China, and it's likely that unless the Trump administration reverses course on tariffs, prices will be going up.
That may lead you to ask: Should you be panic-buying your favorite vibrators? It's not the most straightforward question, so let's break it down.
Have extra money to buy a sex toy? BUY
I'm no financial expert, but if you have some extra cash right now, purchasing a toy before prices go up wouldn't hurt. The best time to buy was probably yesterday. Sex toy company Dame, for example, has added a $15 "Trump tariff surcharge" to purchases, up from $5 when tariffs were initially announced.
Pleasure jewelry company Crave told Mashable that they stocked up on extra inventory (because of Trump's history with tariffs on China). So, prices are currently the same, but that may not be the case forever. "[O]wing to the extreme tariffs and their apparent likelihood of being maintained, it is unclear how long we can keep our current pricing," Crave stated in an email to customers.
While there are toys $100 and over, plenty of inexpensive options exist as well that you may want to snatch up before prices increase, such as the Ava Vivv massage wand, which is somehow on sale for $10.99 as of this writing (read our review of the Ava Vivv wand). Or peruse BBOutlet, the inexpensive toy platform from Bellesa.
If you can't afford anything but the basics right now, however, then no. Don't buy a sex toy, and the subsequent questions may not apply to you. You may need to go analog for a while.
Are your sex toys broken? BUY
If your vibrator is a decade old and on the fritz, you may want to purchase one sooner rather than later. That doesn't mean buy a dozen new vibrators to make up for the lost one. One may be plenty, especially if there are certain vibrations (rumbly vs. clit-sucking) you vibe with the most, so to speak.
Worried about dupes? BUY
If there's a sex toy brand you love or always wanted to try, now is the time to buy — and from the brand's own site.
"From skincare to pleasure products, these are things that you do not skimp on," said co-founder and creative director of Crave, Ti Chang, in an interview with Mashable. She warned consumers to watch out for unethical companies that don't seem to have real people behind them, but AI-generated photos and copy.
Some no-name companies may try to copy the aesthetics of a well-known or more expensive brand. If you can't read any information on the material products are made of (that go in and around your body!), nor anything about the people who make them, or the process, you'll want to steer clear. Sex toy dupes on Shein are a good example.
"People are still wanting good products," said Chang, but due to price increases, "they may be forced to try to experience some dupes at their peril."
That's not to say that some sex toys on sites like Amazon can't be awesome, but do your research. Search for reviews on credible third-party sites (like Mashable!) and read product information closely to see what's legit. Mashable has a full guide on choosing a sex toy to help you out.
Keep checking Mashable for our latest tariff news and explainers, from delayed Nintendo Switch 2 preorders to reports of iPhone 16 panic buying.
